Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner says the city of Port-of-Spain is nothing but a dump and is the victim of bad political leadership. Warner said those who made a mess of the city did not stay around to clean up. He urged dozens of business owners to look at the eyesores and to do their part to save it. Warner said Port-of-Spain was the only city in the country that remained faithful to one government for over 50 years. He said: "Even in the worst of times Port-of-Spain remained faithful to one government. "Today, 55 years later, Port-of-Spain, sad to say, is nothing but a dump." He was the feature speaker at a luncheon hosted by the Trinidad Union Club, Nicholas Towers, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
He added: "Trinidad and Tobago, and in particular Port-of-Spain, as a capital city is not living up to its reputation that we ought to enjoy. "We are supposed to be the top economic country in the Caribbean. "Port-of-Spain is supposed to be the New York of the Caribbean, a place to do business and I am saying that is far from the truth." He said traffic, criminal activities, filth and vagrancy were some of the problems the city was facing. He blamed the previous administration for the social and economic ills of the capital. He asked: "I ask you all here today, where did it all go wrong? Where did the slide begin? How did it happen?" He said a lack of political leadership and a deficiency in cultural intelligence were two factors which contributed to the city's downfall.
He said Port-of-Spain never benefited despite two economic booms in T&T. He said the last administration spent $478 million on an incomplete feasibility study for the rapid rail. Stirring humour among the audience, Warner said every morning he kicked the boxes with the study under his desk. He asked: "What do we have to show for the billions spent in Port-of-Spain? "Where did all the money go when there was money in the country? Why didn't Port-of-Spain benefit?" Warner, who spoke for close to an hour, advised the businessmen and businesswomen to ensure their businesses were operated in conformity with the law. He said they should take a leadership role in protecting and rebuilding society.
